In an age of acrylics and oils, Ursula Medley works in traditional paints, which require artists to mix their own paint. An example of paint Medley uses is egg tempera, a mixture of egg, water and colour pigments. It was the primary paint from as early as the first century to the 1500s, when oil paints were invented. Medley is mostly known as a landscape expressionist.
Are you self-taught or did you study?
I studied painting at UBC back in the ’70s and graduated with first-class honours. It was cool. In those days they didn’t exactly teach you painting, it was all exploratory: “There’s the paints you should buy and paint this.” The word “technique” was never used. I basically graduated knowing nothing about painting.
What did you want to learn at university?
I was seeking the history of Western painting. I wanted to learn about egg tempera and all of those things from the beginning of painting in Western civilization. I didn’t get that until 1997 when somebody came from Yugoslavia and taught me tempera painting.
Is there a painter right now who you are influenced by?
Recently, I was so moved by a German painter, Anselm Kiefer.
What inspires you about him?
He’s in his 70s and was in the same kind of period when they weren’t really teaching painting. So he explored everything and he decided he needed the technique. His work is really inspiring because he has the traditional knowledge, but he also explores modern expressionism.
Are you happy you moved to Powell River?
I’m excited by what’s happening in Powell River with the arts right now. It seems like there’s more and more artistic people moving here and supporting each other.
For more information, go to ursulamedley.ca.
